Steinermania 287: HE'S FAT

[King Bastar]

The Jim Cornette Experience

In an attempt not to get caught up in a childish Twitter war, or go on a Podcast and get into a heated discussing with a man I do not know, nor respect, I am going to calmly address my issues with the co-host of Jim Cornette's Podcast (The Jim Cornette experience) here.
If you are unaware last week on the JCE Jimmy and his co-host were discussing WrestleMania. Jim hadn't seen the show so his co-host was running it down for him. In his review of the show he made several statements about my friend Chris Jericho that I felt were disrespectful, completely false, and just plain ignorant. In response I Tweeted that Jim Cornette's co-host was being a complete Ass-Hat and was a classic never been there, talking out his ass. According to my Twitter time line said co-host took me to task on this week's JCE. I have no intention of listening to this week's JCE but thought I should at least clarify my statements and let everyone else judge who is the Ass-Hat.

The statements I took exception to were his reasons for not liking Jericho anymore, which came up when they were discussing the Jericho vs. Styles match. I will address each statement and why I took exception to them and let you be the judge.

He made fun of Jericho's chest and said it looked like he had a bad breast reduction and this for some reason is justification of not liking a guy anymore. Well for the record Jericho's chest does look odd and the reason for that is he suffered a muscle tear in his chest. I'm not sure when it became acceptable to make fun of a 25 year veteran of this sport because of an injury he suffered or how said injury should change your ability to enjoy his matches, but I'm calling this pretty much the definition of Ass-hat behaviour. I wonder if Mr. Co-host enjoys Kofi's work at all.

Mr. Co-host also stated that Jericho has new lifts in his boots, which are making him clumsier than he used to be. Now I'm curious if Mr. Co-host has spoken first hand to Jericho's boot guy or perhaps Jericho himself to verify this matter of fact statement, which I am almost 100% sure if False. Chris is a good friend of mine and I've seen his old boots as well as his current boots (I'm not even sure they are new) and they seem to be the exact same to me. If I am incorrect and Mr. Co-host has actually spoken to the guy who made Jericho's boots and knows for a fact he has added additional lifts to them for Jericho's current WWE run, then I will apologize. I'll even come on the Experience to do so. If he hasn't and in fact has zero knowledge of Jericho's boots and was just making a short joke at the expense of a Wrestling HOFer, then I again call Ass-hat.

He compared Jericho's program with AJ Styles to the burial of young talent in WCW, and basically called Jericho a hypocrite for complaining about it in WCW and perpetrating it in WWE. This is of course a complete bullshit thing to say. I suggest Mr Co-host go back and watch some WCW and rethink his statement. The Jericho vs. AJ program ended with AJ pinning Jericho with the Style's Clash in the middle of the ring on RAW. While I too thought AJ should have won at Mania comparing this program to say Hogan vs. Kidman in WCW or that absurd segment on Nitro where after winning my third consecutive Championship Kevin Nash came out, gave me the big boot, and proceeded to cut a promo about someone else, is ridiculous.

Cornette called him out on the Mania finish stating that Jericho isn't the one booking the finishes and you can't blame him. To this Mr Co-host stated that he was sure (confident, not sure exact word) that Jericho has enough creative control to get Vince to change the finish if he really wanted to. As per the previous point, not actively arguing to do a job is a far cry from actively politicking and booking programs to bury talent and put yourself over. Even if Jericho made no attempt to change the finish, which I have no knowledge of one way or the other, this still isn't on him. Furthermore I'm curious what kind of firsthand knowledge Mr Co-host has where he is confident Jericho has the stroke to change a Mania finish if he so chooses. I suspect he has zero knowledge of this and was once again talking out of his ass. If he does have such knowledge and can factually state that Jericho could have switched the finish if he wanted to, then again I will be happy to apologize. I wonder if Mr. Co-host will do the apologizing if he doesn't.

The last point I want to address was my statement that Mr-Co-host was a never been there talking out of his ass. I could see many people thinking this is akin too "He's never taken a bump, therefore he can't have an opinion". That is not what this statement was, this statement was a simple FACT. When Mr Co-host was talking about Jerihco's ability to convince Vince to change a Mania finish he was quite literally a Never been there, talking out of his ass. I don't believe Mr Co-host has ever been backstage at a WrestleMania, sat down with Vince, and tried to convince him to change his mind about a finish. If he hasn't then he's never been there and was talking out of his ass. Now once again if in fact he has negotiated a Mania finish with Vince, or even been in the room while someone else has, then I am the one who is mistaken.

That's pretty much where I stand on the issue, and won't comment on it again. If Jimmy reads this and his co-host does in fact have the first hand knowledge to back up his statement, or feels that dumping unfair blame on, or making fun of a 25 year veteran of this sport just for shits and giggles is acceptable then I will happily come on the Jim Cornette Experience and apologise to his co-host. If Jimmy agrees with me on these issues, I call on him to see if his co-host is man enough to apologize for his statements a week ago, and potential anything offensive he may have said this week.

Lance Storm

http://www.stormwrestling.com/041416.html

How anyone can diss Jericho is insane, the dude is the consummate professional and I like that Lance called this dweeb out. Also, look at you getting all fancy with headers and bold text. I dig it.

Basically the match should have been shorter, more action, less selling from Reigns. More of Trips/Reigns doing their trademark spots rather than a lengthy "classic".

Fair point. I'll have to give it a listen to.

 

[chknhawk]

Occasionally, usually taking current stories in different directions, not done the "Give me two guys, I'll write something" for a while, although, I'm sure I could rustle something up.

My man! I missed these so much. You are good at what you do, brother. How about getting the title on AJ and introducing Finn Balor to the main roster, culminating in a championship match between the two? You pick the winner and all the in-between. AJ doesn't even have to win the strap until later in the year, if that helps.

 

[Sexy]

Lance Storm would stomp a mudhole in that fat neckbeard, deservedly so.

 

[chknhawk]

I was a big Jericho fan until I read his first book. It disappointed me in a don't ever meet your heroes kind of way. Great wrestler. Draws heat and gets face pops at his whim, but that book did not paint a pretty picture of him as a person. I'm 36 and I've been watching him since before Monday Night Jericho. I still remember that heel turn from Lion heart into that great heel persona on WCW Nitro. So, I'm not a johnny come lately, nor am I questioning his skills.

 

[King Bastar]

So apparently Alicia Fox became the first female performer in WWE to appear in the United Arab Emirates.



Weird choice.

 

[Max Power]

Lucky that she wasn't beheaded on sight by some random.^

Brian Last is not over. Not sure what Jim was thinking.

 

[King Bastar]

Why is Ryback helping the terrorist, @Gutter Chris?

 

[Pittie Petey]

I put hard times on my dog

Thats a good lookin dog

 

[Gutter Chris]

Why is Ryback helping the terrorist, @Gutter Chris?

I think thats just a rego arab guy gettin some wwe exp in . If terrorists kidnap ryback and force him to teach them how to get swole the world might in trouble though

 

[Pittie Petey]

Adam Rose and Konnor were suspended

 

[Batjester]

Adam Rose and Konnor were suspended

For sucking?

 

[Gutter Chris]

Adam Rose and Konnor were suspended

Ya know pete if you and wwe hadnt said anything no one would have even noticed

 

[TheStruggle]

Everyone uses Rock vs Hogan as an example of psychology over work rate. Add HBK vs Flair to that list. That match was so much better than it had any right to be.

That match was only 3.5 stars according to Meltzer, he also thought Rock vs Hogan was 3 stars

 

[Sexy]

Rock/Hogan is awesome b/c of psychology/atmosphere and just seeing them in the ring and facing off. The match isn't amazingly worked (not really sure how you can argue that it is) but its very entertaining and I love it. The crowd going absolutely nuts when Hogan hulks up (combined with Rock's reaction) is classic.

 

[Fonx]

I was a big Jericho fan until I read his first book. It disappointed me in a don't ever meet your heroes kind of way. Great wrestler. Draws heat and gets face pops at his whim, but that book did not paint a pretty picture of him as a person. I'm 36 and I've been watching him since before Monday Night Jericho. I still remember that heel turn from Lion heart into that great heel persona on WCW Nitro. So, I'm not a johnny come lately, nor am I questioning his skills.

Why did he come across as a douche in that book to you?

 

[HereticBD]

Adam Rose and Konnor were suspended

Say it ain't so.

Main Event is fucked.

 

[Smigg]

My man! I missed these so much. You are good at what you do, brother. How about getting the title on AJ and introducing Finn Balor to the main roster, culminating in a championship match between the two? You pick the winner and all the in-between. AJ doesn't even have to win the strap until later in the year, if that helps.

Sure thing.

What you do is have Reigns become more of a heel, acting more like "Hollywood Rock", he starts attacking guys after matches, he's openly disrespecting fans, and more importantly, he disrespects AJ. Then, actually have AJ winning the title against Roman Reigns, with help from Gallows and Anderson. AJ doesn't know they've done it, he certainly didn't want them to do it, but the dust has settled, AJ Styles is the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

AJ then appears the next night on Raw as the champion, Reigns comes out, says "So, you're acting as if you don't know what happened? You're acting as if your boys didn't help you like that? I know why they did it... and I know why this is about to happen." Cue The Usos beating the shit out of AJ, and they prop AJ up, Reigns sets up for the Spear, and out come Gallows and Anderson, and they get AJ out of there".

AJ then thanks them for helping him out of the ass kicking, and while they'll always be boys, they're not to help him hold the WWE title, he has a point to prove, and if that means he loses it right away, then he loses it right away, but he has to do it the right way, for his own piece of mind. With that, he grants Roman Reigns his rightful rematch at the next PPV. And half way through the match, The Usos join the match, and start kicking the shit out of AJ. Despite what AJ told them, Gallows and Anderson show up, and start helping AJ out, when the Usos and Gallows/Anderson spill out to the outside, Reigns hits the spear, wins back the title.

Despite pleading their case that they were just evening the odds, AJ wants to hear nothing of it, Vince tells them that they better get on the same page, as there's a 6 man tag that night, Reigns and the Usos vs. Styles, Gallows and Anderson, the Bullet Club have their first official match on WWE television. One of the Usos hits the spear on Anderson, as he goes for the cover, a guy in a hoodie gets in the top rope, jumps off the top rope and lands on the Usos' back, he pulls down the hood to reveal none other than Finn Balor.

The next week on Raw, AJ Styles calls Gallows, Anderson and Balor to the ring, and says this isn't what he signed to the WWE for, he's had a 15 year career, and the last thing he wants to have his career in WWE being "Yeah, AJ's good and all that, but he couldn't win without those three guys interfering"

Balor then takes the mic, and says "That's the problem AJ, you're forgetting this family that you are a part of, a family that was born in Japan, a family who had one common goal, to be the best group in Sports Entertainment history, that's why these guys are here, that's why I asked them to do this, nobody wants Roman Reigns representing them". Anderson then takes the microphone from Finn, and says, "Let's just get one thing straight, YOU don't ask me and Gallows to do ANYTHING. WE started this thing in Japan, WE were supposed to be the family. But then your master HHH shows up, offers you a little tidbit, and you come running, and you prance around for what? Money? You're gonna make a fool of yourself for money?! No... look at you... with your 'Official Merchandise', your hand gestures, that stupid little NXT Belt, I can see you now, you're looking at them?! You're pandering to these people?! OOOH LIKE ME WWE FANS! LET ME BE YOUR HERO! YOU left US. AJ Styles came into our family, AJ Styles didn't run to make people like him, he became OUR family, we fought TOGETHER, and we came over here TOGETHER, we appreciate loyalty, we don't need to pander, we don't need to prance, we don't need Finn Balor", Gallows and Anderson attack Finn Balor, they hit their finish on him, they stand over him, look at AJ Styles, who then lays the boots in to Balor, and locks in Calf Crusher, whilst Gallows and Anderson carry on sticking the boot in. Styles then gets on the mic, says "I told you I didn't need THREE guys interfering" and they leave together.

NXT Takeover, Styles, Gallows and Anderson are in the front row, taking a particular interest in Asuka, who is defending her title against Nia Jax. Asuka successfully defends her title, prompting them to jump over the barrier, get in the ring, and and offer her a place in the new Bullet Club, Asuka declines, they get a little more aggressive in their pitch to her, she says no again, as she tries to leave, AJ grabs her wrist, Asuka kicks Styles in the head. The three of them surround Asuka, now she can't leave the ring, this brings out Balor to attempt to fight them off, but it's three on one, this brings out a returning Hideo Itami, but it's still 3 on 2, and here comes the final man to help out, Shinsuke Nakamura.

Now the Bullet Club are fighting on two fronts, on the main roster against Reigns and The Usos, and on NXT against Balor/Itami/Nakamura, but what happens next changes EVERYTHING.

For the first time ever in WWE, the Elimination Chamber hosts a 3-on-3 War Games match, Reigns and The Usos take on The Bullet Club, the last team standing earns their Captain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It comes down to Reigns vs. AJ, winner take all, the Usos and Anderson/Gallows are fighting on the outside. Nakamura and Itami start beating on Gallows and Anderson. Balor finds a way into the Chamber, he goes to hit Styles with his NXT title, but he misses, and hits Reigns. AJ hits the Styles Clash on Balor, then hits it on Reigns. AJ Styles regains the title.

Fast forward to NXT, Reigns and the Usos attack Finn Balor. The main event is set, The Usos will take on Itami and Nakamura. During the match, the Bullet Club show up, and attack Itami and Nakamura, it's 5 on 2, have the Bullet Club joined forces with Reigns and The Usos?

The next Raw, The Bullet Club, Reigns and the Usos reach an accord, a temporary ceasefire, and work together, and get rid of Balor, Itami and Nakamura. Which brings out William Regal, "Gentlemen, after a long career in the ring, I of all people appreciate settling issues in a physical confrontation, especially when it serves the fans. However, as the NXT General Manager, I will not tolerate my show being invaded, putting NXT fans and talent at risk for a personal vendetta". Regal then slowly unbuttons his shirt, revealing a T-Shirt, "Read this T-Shirt here... WE. ARE. N.X.T. I remember one of you talking about family, well that's what this means, so if you're going to have this fight, then we'll bring the fight to you. Out come Balor, Itami and Nakamura, but they're also flanked by Jason Jordan, Chad Gable and Samoa Joe, they run down to the ring, and the fight is on, and it's become a full on riot, security try to break them up, the rest of the roster has to come down to break them up. AJ grabs a mic, and says "I'm sick of this, we're ending this! We're doing this Finn! AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor! WWE World Heavyweight Champion vs. NXT Champion... Title for Title!"

The next PPV happens, AJ (with the Bullet Club, Reigns and The Usos) vs. Finn (with the NXT guys) both titles are on the line in what has amounted to a lumberjack match. Before long, all hell breaks loose, guys are taking finishers, they're getting hit with weapons, everyone is laid out. Finn manages to get AJ set up for the Coup de Grace, he's about to jump, until Joe pushes Finn off the top rope, AJ hits the Styles Clash, AJ Styles wins the match, and combines the WWE and NXT World Championships.

The tenuous alliance between Bullet Club and Reigns/Usos inevitably breaks down when Reigns wants the World Title, and AJ is having to defend the NXT title against all comers on NXT.

 

[Smigg]

 

[Smigg]

 

[HereticBD]

Rock/Hogan is awesome b/c of psychology/atmosphere and just seeing them in the ring and facing off. The match isn't amazingly worked (not really sure how you can argue that it is) but its very entertaining and I love it. The crowd going absolutely nuts when Hogan hulks up (combined with Rock's reaction) is classic.

I still wonder how much of that was booked on the fly. Clearly, Rock and Hogan weren't expecting that intense of a reaction from the crowd, and switched roles accordingly. I can't imagine Hogan "Hulking up" was originally in the plans. Was Hogan's face turn booked from the outset, or did they just send Hall and Nash out there, once they realized how over Hogan was?

Such a crazy match.